Question: I've Heard That Children Should Never Take Aspirin. Is That True? Answer: Aspirin is not a common pain reliever for children. In the 1970s, aspirin was associated with a very rare but a potentially life-threatening condition called Reye's syndrome. Since that time, other medications that work by similar mechanisms have been developed that have much fewer side effects, and for certain types of pain are more effective, such as ibuprofen and naproxen. Aspirin today is reserved for...Full Story